Power distributing system



Oct. 29, 1968 F. w. GARDNER POWER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1965 INVENTOR r III I 5 w M Q m 8 6 4 2 3 R R R R R R R R mm -wmm-w-m O 6 4 2 O .fi 3Q mmmmmmmm 4 n 2 L d 2 2 "n m m l w B H 9 7 5 3 I k k k g T 3 B B B B B B B B k %W wmuww 3 5 B H 9 7 5 3 I r[ l R R R R R R R R 4 3/ ATTO BY 7 United States Patent 3,408,502 POWER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Fred W. Gardner, 2040 Pine Ridge Drive, Clearwater, Fla. 33515 Filed Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 511,899 4 Claims. (Cl. 307-29) The present invention relates to signal and control circuits by which a plurality of electrically responsive devices are selectively energized by individual switching means which may be remote from the devices.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of new and improved signal and control circuits by which a plurality of electrically responsive devices can be selectively energized by individual switches through circuitry in which common conductors may be employed to thereby greatly reduce the number of conductors required to energize the respective devices as compared to the number of conductors heretofore required to similarly energize the same number of devices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred forms thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a wiring diagram of one form of the invention illustrating its use for controlling an elevator, and

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of another form of the invention for a similar purpose.

The invention may be embodied in numerous forms in which it is desired to individually control a multiple of electrically responsive devices, such as control relays, signal lights or indicators, communication systems, etc., by a like number of switches and in which a minimum number of condutcors are employed interconnecting electric power supply means with the switches and the devices at R1 through R16, circuits, not shown, at floors indicated art and to simplify the disclosure of the present invention, they are not shown.

In the control panel there are eight up switches indicated by the letter U and eight down switches indicated by the letter D, which control the floors at which the elevator is to stop.

The relays may be of any conventional construction suitable for the purpose mentioned and each includes two for connection in a circuit by which the solenoid of each relay is energized.

The switches U and D are of conventional construction and are normally open and may be closed. by depressing a button associated therewith. Each switch has first and second terminals by which it is connected in a circuit controlled thereby.

The first terminals of the pair of switches U1, D1 are connected by a conductor 20 and branches with the first terminals of the pair of relays R1, R2; the first terminals of the switches U2, D2 are connected by conductor 21 and branches to the first terminals of relays R3, R4; the

3,408,502 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 first terminals of switches U3, D3 are connected by conductor 22 and branches to the first terminals of the relays R5, R6; the first terminals of switches U4, D4 are connected by conductor 23 and branches to the first terminals of relays R7, R8; the first terminals of switches U5, D5 are connected by conductor 24 and branches to the first terminals of relays R9, R10; the first terminals of switches U6, D6 are connected by conductor 25 and branches to the first terminals of relays R11, R12;

Two sources of electric power are provided for operating the relays and in the present instance these two sources are supplied from a transformer T1 which includes a primary winding 30, which may be connected to any suitable source of alternating current such as the usual v. A.C. commercial service, and two separate secondaries 31, 32 provide two potentials of a suitable lower voltage, such as 12 v.

One side of the secondary 31 is connected by conductor 33 to the second terminals of the relays R1, R3, R5, R7, R9, R11, R13, R15 and the other side of the secondary is connected by conductor 34 to the second terminal of the respective switches U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, U6, U7 and U8.

One side of the secondary 32 is connected by a conductor 35 to the second terminals of relays R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12, R14, R16 and the other side of the secondary is connected by a conductor 36 to the second terminals of switches D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8.

erally located in the penthouse shaft and consequently the conductors 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,

ondary 31, conductor 34, switch U3,

circuits which would, without the diodes, be established from one side of secondary 31 through conductor 34, switch U3, conductor 22, relay R6, conductor 35, and each of the relays R2, R4, R6, R8, R10, R12, R14, R16 to conductor 33 and back to secondary 31. It will be ap- 3 parent that the presence of the diodes B2, B4, B6, B8, B10, B12, B14, B16 prevent such energization of the relays connected with conductor 35.

It will be seen that sixteen relays can be individually actuated by sixteen separate switches by using only ten long run conductors and two sources of current.

Referring to FIG. 2, another form of the invention is shown in which an elevator control panel includes relays R51 through R66 which are like the panel 5 and relays R1 down switches U51 through U58 and D51 through D58 which are like the switches U and D described with reference to FIG. 1. The pairs of switches U and D bearing the same reference numerals are located on a panel 41 in the elevator and each pair of switches are effective to operate individual of the relays to cause the elevator car to be stopped at the floor desired. As mentioned previously with resepct to the circuit of FIG. 1, the control circuits for the elevator which are operated by the respective relays are not shown as they are not essential to the understanding of the present invention.

In the present instance, the first terminals of two pairs of the switches U51, U52, D51, D52 are connected by a conductor 70 and branches to the first terminals of two pairs of relays R51, R52, R53, R54; the first terminal of the two pairs of switches U53, U54 and D53, D54 are connected by conductors 71 and branches to the first terminals of the two pairs of relays R55, R56, R57, R58; the first terminals of the two pairs of switches U55, U56 and D55, D56 are connected by conductor 72 and branches to the first terminals of the two pairs of relays R59, R60, R61, R62; and the first terminals of the two pairs of switches U57, U58 and D57, D58 are connected by conductor 73 and branches to the first terminals of the two pairs of relays R63, R64, R65 and R66.

Four sources of separate current supply are provided by transformers T2 and T3. Transformer T2 has a primary 74 and two secondaries 75, 76 which are separate from one another and the transformer T3 has a primary 80 and separate secondaries 81, 82. The secondaries provide a suitable potential of 12 v., for example.

One side of the secondary 75 is connected by a conductor 83 to the second terminals of the relays R53, R57, R61, R65 and the opposite side of the secondary is connected by a conductor 84 to the second terminals of switches U52, U54, U56 and U58.

One side of secondary 76 is connected by a conductor 85 to the second terminals of relays R51, R55, R59 and R63, and the opposite side of the secondary is connected by a conductor 86 to the second terminals of switches U51, U53, U55 and U57.

One side of secondary winding 81 is connected by a conductor 87 to the second terminals of relays R54, R58, R62, R66, and the opposite side of the secondary is connected by a conductor 88 to the second terminals of switches D52, D54, D56 and D58.

One side of the secondary 82 is connected by a conductor 90 to the second terminal of relays R52, R56, R60 and R64, and the opposite side of the secondary is connected by a conductor 91 to the second terminals of switches D51, D53, D55, D57.

The transformers T2 and T3 may be conveniently located adjacent or on the panel. Accordingly, the relatively long length conductors extending between the switches and the relays will comprise conductors 70, 71, 72, 73, 84, 86, 88 and 91, which are eight in number and yet sixteen relays can be individually controlled by sixteen switches by use of only eight interconnecting conductors.

Diodes B51 through B66 are each associated with the respective relays and are arranged to prevent flow of current from the second terminal to the first terminal of each relay.

Referring to the practical operation of the circuit, assuming switch D53 is depressed, relay R58 will be energized by a circuit comprising secondary 81, conductor 88, switch D54, conductor 71, diode B58, relay R58,

7 conductor 87 back to secondary S1. The diodes prevent through R16 and are controlled by up and 10 0 switches each switch having completion of a circuit which could otherwise be established from secondary 81, conductor 88, switch D54, conductor 71, relay R56, conductor 90, relay R60, conductor 72, relay R62 and conductor 87 back to secondary 81. It will be seen that by the presence of the diode B62 this spurious energization is effectively prevented.

It will be seen that by using four sources of current, the sixteen relays can be individually controlled by sixteen separate switches with the use of but eight long line interconnecting conductors.

In the appended claims, reference is made to pairs of electrically responsive devices and pairs of switches. It is to be understood that the reference to these pairs refer only to two devices or switches and does not necessarily infer that the devices or switches of a pair are alike or even similar in construction, size, etc.

Although I have described but two forms of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms, modifications and adaptations could be made all falling within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a signal and control system, a given number of pairs of electrically actuated devices each device having first and second terminals for connection with a circuit for energizing the device, a given number of pairs of electric switches each switch having first and second terminals for connection in a circuit to be controlled thereby, conductor means connecting the first terminals of individual pairs of switches with the first terminals of individual pairs of said devices, two electric current sources each having a potential between two sides thereof, conductor means connecting one side of said first power source with the second terminals of one device of each pair of devices, conductor means connecting the other side of said first source with the said second terminal of one of said switches of each pair of switches, conductor means connectin one side of second source with said second terminals of the other device of each of said pairs of devices, conductor means connecting the other side of said second source with said second terminal of each of the other switches of said pairs of switches, and means to prevent the flow of current in one direction relative to said first and second terminals of said devices.

2. In a signal and control system, a given number of pairs of electrically actuated devices each device having first and second terminals for connection with a circuit for energizing the device, a given number of pairs of electric first and second terminals for connection in a circuit to be controlled thereby, conductor means connecting the first terminals of two pairs of switches with the first terminals of two pairs of said devices, four electric current sources each having a potential between two sides thereof, conductor means connecting one side of said first power source with the second terminals of one device of each two pairs of devices, conductor means connecting the other side of said first source with the said second terminal of one of said switches of each two pairs of switches, conductor means connecting one side of said second source with said second terminals of a second device of each of said two pairs of devices, conductor means connecting the other side of said second source with said second terminal of the second switch of each of said two pairs of switches, conductor means connecting one side of the third source with the second terminals of the third device of each said two pairs of said devices, conductor means connecting the other side of said third source with the second terminals of the third switch of each of said two pairs of switches, a conductor connecting one side of said fourth source to the second terminals of the fourth device of each of said pairs of devices, a conductor connecting the other side of said fourth source with the second terminals of the fourth switch of each of said two pairs of switches, and means 5 to prevent the flow of current in one direction relative to said first and second terminals of said devices.

3. In a signal and control system as defined in claim 1 in which the last mentioned means comprises diodes connected with one terminal of the respective devices.

4. In a signal and control system as defined in claim 2 in which the last mentioned means comprises diodes connected with one terminal of the respective devices.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,370,676 2/1968 McDonald et a1 1872S 3,160,232 12/1964 Savage 187-2S 3,146,858 9/1964 Leroux et al. 1872S ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner. H. J. HOHAUSER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SIGNAL AND CONTROL SYSTEM, A GIVEN NUMBER OF PAIRS OF ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED DEVICES EACH DEVICE HAVING FIRST AND SECOND TERMINALS FOR CONNECTION WITH A CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING THE DEVICE, A GIVEN NUMBER OF PAIRS OF ELECTRIC SWITCHES EACH SWITCH HAVING FIRST AND SECOND TERMINALS FOR CONNECTION IN A CIRCUIT TO BE CONTROLLED THEREBY, CONDUCTOR MEANS CONNECTING THE FIRST TERMINALS OF INDIVIDUAL PAIRS OF SWITCHES WITH THE FIRST TERMINALS OF INDIVIDUAL PAIRS OF SAID DEVICES, TWO ELECTRIC CURRENT SOURCES EACH HAVING A POTENTIAL BETWEEN TWO SIDES THEREOF, CONDUCTOR MEANS CONNECTING ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST POWER SOURCE WITH THE SECOND TERMINALS OF ONE DEVICE OF EACH PAIR OF DEVICES, CONDUCTOR MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID FIRST SOURCE WITH THE SAID SECOND TERMINAL OF ONE OF SAID SWITCHES OF EACH PAIR OF SWITCHES, CONDUCTOR MEANS CONNECTING ONE SIDE OF SECOND SOURCE WITH SAID SECOND TERMINALS OF THE OTHER DEVICE OF EACH OF SAID PAIRS OF DEVICES, CONDUCTOR MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID SECOND SOURCE WITH SAID SECOND TERMINAL OF EACH OF THE OTHER SWITCHES OF SAID PAIRS OF SWITCHES, AND MEANS TO PREVENT THE FLOW OF CURRENT IN ONE DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND TERMINALS OF SAID DEVICES. 